Justification:
Listed as Critically Endangered because its Extent of Occurrence is less than 100 km2 and its Area Of Occupancy is less than 10km2, all individuals are in a single sub-population, and there is continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat around San Martin.

This is a metamorphosing species spending most of its time on land in a mosaic of natural grasslands and pine-oak forests, living in somewhat more open habitats than Ambystoma amblycephalum. It requires ponds and small streams in which to breed.

The habitat of this species is under threat from agriculture, in particular from commercial wheat farming, leading to the desiccation and pollution of its breeding lakes and water reservoirs within its small range. However, survival of this species appears to be compatible with cattle grazing, particularly if stock ponds are available for breeding. Introduced predatory fish also pose a serious threat to this species.

It does not occur in any protected areas, making the conservation and restoration of the natural habitats for this species urgent. It might be possible to breed this species in captivity, in which case captive animals could be a source of new individuals to repopulate natural habitats. It is protected under the category Pr (Special protection) by the Government of Mexico.